Digital Right To Repair Coalition Warns Repair Monopolies Are Pervasive And Unavoidable
“It has been our experience since 2010 – as reported by our members in their daily work – that the vast majority of technology-enabled new products available today are repair-monopolised. We know this because our members are part of the worldwide network of technology repair businesses that support OEMs and independents alike,” Repair.org executive director Gay Gordon-Byrne stated in a submission [PDF] to the Australian Productivity Commission. “Repair monopolised products now include nearly all cell phones and internet communications equipment, all consumer electronics including all TVs, IOT devices, and home appliances … repair monopolies are so pervasive that for many categories of equipment, it is no longer possible to avoid monopolies through better product selection....